After two frustrating days, Paul Nicholls finally got on the scoresheet when his previously luckless chaser Thisthatandtother ended a bout of seconditis when winning the inaugural running of the Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy.

In an epic tussle from the final fence, Thisthatandtother, runner-up in his last five races, gained his just reward when getting the better of course specialist Fondmort by half a length, with 7-4 favourite Our Vic pulled up after a series of jumping errors.

Ruby Walsh, punching the air as he entered the hallowed winnerís enclosure, dismounted and told connections "that makes up for the Paddy Power Gold Cup."

Walsh was reflecting on his defeat by Celestial Gold in that race in November, when he blamed himself for getting beat.

Nicholls said: "We werenít sure that he would stay the trip that day and Ruby reckons he should have been positive, but he has more than made up for it today.

"Thisthatandtother has been taking on the best and, after being beaten by Well Chief in the Victor Chandler Chase (at Cheltenham in January), we decided to step him up in trip, and that, plus the better ground, has been the making of him.

"I knew that he would stay all the way to the line and it was a great scrap with Fondmort, but this was always going to be our race.

"He will now go to Aintree for the big two miles and five furlong race, but, like owner Graham Roach, I am already looking forward to the 2005 King George VI Chase at Sandown on Boxing Day.

"I have no doubt that Thisthatandtother will get three miles and that race is made for him, as it is Le Roi Miguel, who has run well to finish fifth here."

Reflecting on the first two days when little went right for the stable, Nicholls added: "The horses have run well without winning, but you canít win them all.

"We might have won the Sporting Index Chase had Commanche War Paint not tipped up, and the only real disappointment has been Azertyuiop in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

"We scoped him this morning and he was 100%, but we have discovered that he has torn muscles in his abdomen. Hopefully, he might be back for Sandown next month."

FONDMORT TRIES SO HARD

Nicky Henderson was absolutely delighted with Fondmort even though the nine-year-old went down by half a length to Thisthatandtother.

He said: "Fantastic - that was Fondmort enjoying himself at his best and he didnít deserve to be beaten but then again nor did the winner.

"That was the first time that heís bowled along but Mick [Fitzgerald, jockey] said that there wasnít a lot of pace.

"One thing you never want to do with this horse is disappoint him and just let him enjoy his racing.

"But he got beat- someone has to win. He got headed and then put his head back in front - it was just nip and tuck and a great steeplechase.

"You would have to think about the Grand National as you donít get too many chances.

"Heís proved heís come back to himself there. For two and a half milers to run in the National, they have to have class and heís proved that he has that. And you have to jump and you wonít see many jump around here like he has today.

"Tracey [Brown] is nervous about Aintree but Billy [Brown, owner]is great and lets you get on with whatever you think."

Rathgar Beau was a further two and a half lengths away in third for Irish
trainer Dusty Sheehy.

He said: "I thought that he was travelling the best of the three going to the last but thereís still probably a furlong to go then. I thought that he would win but he made a mistake.

"He might go to Aintree for the two and a half miler but heíll probably run at Punchestown in a big chase worth euros180,000."